Long-term safety trends are positive

Almost any way you look at it, railroads are getting safer. The latest report from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office ofSafety Analysis, covering the first 10 months of the years 2008-2011, shows continuous improvement.

Based on reports from around 750 large and small railroads, totalaccidents/incidents declined 16.6% to 9,155 over the four-year period.

Rail-related fatalities were down 11.8% to 607. Highway-rail fatalitiesdropped 9.7% to 214, trespasser deaths were down 8.1% to 365, and employeefatalities declined 9.15 to 20.

The number of collisions declined 16.7% to 135, and derailments were off23.3% to 1,171. Yard accidents declined 23.9% to 892.